WINNERS

Pirates: If nothing else, this deal demonstrates a desire to win that has been lacking for quite some time in Pittsburgh. In past years, the front office would have been content to enter spring training with the status quo, but Burnett at least provides the potential for a No. 1 starter—something the team badly needed as it began its first-to-fourth fade last July. In his seven seasons in the NL with the Florida Marlins, Burnett posted a 3.73 ERA. In his six seasons in the AL with the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, it was 4.39.

Yankees: Sure, they paid a steep price to erase their $82.5 million mistake, but Burnett is gone. His inconsistency will overshadow his flashes of brilliance (Game 2 of the 2009 World Series) and his durability (at least 32 starts in each of the past three seasons), but the element of the unknown has been removed. Yankees fans will breathe easier, as will the coaching staff. And the team now has the financial flexibility to sign a DH (Raul Ibanez) and a backup infielder (Eric Chavez).

Phil Hughes: Because New York had seven starters for five rotation spots, there is a good chance Hughes would have been banished to the bullpen or even traded had Burnett stuck around. He still isn’t a lock for the starting five—Freddy Garcia is his prime competition—but Hughes’ future with the Yankees suddenly looks a lot brighter.

LOSERS

Burnett: Maybe he wasn’t appreciated in New York and maybe he was more of a fallback option than a trusted starter in the postseason, but at least he was part of a winning franchise. The only way he will sniff the playoffs in 2012 is if he is flipped to a contender prior to the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. Remember, the Pirates’ 19 consecutive losing seasons is the longest stretch of futility among the four major pro sports leagues in North America.

AL East hitters: Since Burnett joined the Yankees in 2009, he is 13-17 with a 5.58 ERA against the other teams in the division. He has allowed a .274 batting average and an .842 OPS with just a 212/108 strikeout-to-walk ratio against the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox will miss him most, as he was just 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA against them in 10 starts.

Whipped-cream sales in the Big Apple: Burnett wasn’t popular with New York fans, but he was a good teammate and a solid clubhouse presence. He gained notoriety for his postgame attacks, going undetected as he slammed each night’s hero with a well-timed whipped-cream pie to the face. He and former teammate Johnny Damon each played a large part in loosening up what once was considered a far too tense clubhouse.